EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION JOINS MINISTRY OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION JOINS MINISTRY OF GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Equal Opportunities Commission was part of the stakeholders that converged in Kiboga district to commemorate the International day of older persons on Sunday 1st October, 2017.

The event organized by Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development was attended by a number of stakeholders from all regions of the country. The Chief Guest was Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament.

This year’s theme was, “Stepping into the future: Tapping the talents, contributions and participation of older persons in society.” The theme was tagged to enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large. It focused on the pathways that support full and effective participation in old age, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences.

The Master of Ceremony, Mondo Kyateeka welcomed guests to the event and encouraged participants from various regions to show case their dance skills. The event was opened with a band-aided march within Kiboga town council by various older persons and school children.

The LCV Chairperson of the district, Yiga Israel thanked everyone for coming to Kiboga and was grateful to MOGLSD for accepting to have his district host the event.

He observed the benefits Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) has offered older persons and encouraged government to consider expanding it to other districts in the country. He added; “Where a country is going depends on where it is coming from.” He advocated for additional funding because it is viable and accountability is done timely.

The older persons National Chairman, Joram Tibasiimwa added his voice to the call for government to allow older persons representation in Parliament. “You are fully aware that older persons are not well represented in Parliament.” H.E President Yoweri Museveni promised last year in Pader that this would be put into consideration.”

Additionally, increase in funding needs to be considered for the social protection programmes and inactment of older persons Act. “We need a law in place that protects the rights of older persons against torture, sexual abuse, land grabbing and lack of care and neglect.”

The speaker and Hon. Peace Mutuuzo with one of the older persons

Further still older persons need access to health services and medicines, hearing aids and access to visual aids for those with visual defects.

He hoped that this day would also be gazetted as a national day (public holiday).

The Ireland Ambassador to Uganda Finbar O’Brien said social protection should be broadly recognized for critical development in Uganda. He explained Ireland’s contribution of 240 billion Ug shs and stressed that this reflects his country’s commitment to Uganda. He added, “It further demonstrates the positive influence of this program in Uganda.”

He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Uganda for the roll out and extension of this programme from 25 districts to the rest of the country. He noted that the monthly grant of 25,000 Ug shs has changed the lives of many older persons. “As development partners we commit to continue funding and offer support for sustainable equitable growth.

Hon. Peace Mutuuzo the Minister of State for Gender and Culture expressed her gratitude towards the contributions older persons have made to national development like taking care of orphans and representing on different Boards of Governance. The country’s population of older persons is 1,200,000.

She advocated the different interventions government has undertaken which include formation of National Council for older persons per district. She mentioned the Presidential directives which include; enactment of the older persons Ac, revolving fund for older persons (Ministry of Finance has committed 10bn to this), funding for National Council for older persons, representation of older persons in Parliament, provision of medicine for old age related diseases and the national social protection policy.

She further thanked development partners like DFID, Irish AID and Post bank for the funds committed to the success of the Senior Citizen’s grant.

Member Zaminah Malole with the Chairperson EOC, Mrs Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi at the event.

Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, Woman MP Kiboga district, thanked MOGLSD for bringing the event to her constituency and explained that Kiboga was one of the three pilot districts of SAGE.

Hon. Rebeca Kadaga expressed her delight at being in Kiboga. She was astonished to meet the oldest man in Kiboga who was 107 years old. She expressed her disappointment about the delay in payments for SAGE and asked MOGLSD to look into it.

She observed that she did not hear anyone speak about the strategy for tapping talents but hinted to the Irish Ambassador to help locals export their products to foreign markets. “I saw older persons with honey, okra, crafts and other items in the exhibition stalls, and I would be delighted to see their products sold out of Uganda.”

She called on parents to teach young people to respect older persons. “It is disturbing to hear young people raping older women of 80. These people should be ostracized and serve jail time.”

Another challenge older person’s face is access to health services and access to loans. I encourage MOGSLD to request for a supplementary budget and we shall support you.”

The Speaker awarding gifts to the oldest men and women in Kiboga district